Car construction



C. W. MILLER Jan. 3, 1939.

CAR CONSTRUCTION 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3,

Jan. 3, 1939. c. w. MILLER CAR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1937 ilwnmmv Jan. 3, 1939. c w MILL 2,142,249

CAR CONSTRUCT'I O N Filed March 8, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,142,249 OAR CONSTRUCTION Application March 8,

'10 Claims.

Vehicles of the class hereinafter described are provided with a body having the opposite side walls formed of doors opening outwardly and downwardly as the body tilts toward the opposite sides of thennderframe. The supports for the body upon the underframe perform two functions, namely, to maintain the body in stable equilibrium when the body is in normal position relative to the nnderframe, and to provide bearings upon which the bodyrocks or tilts to dump position. In the present invention said supports arespaced :lat-erally of the underframe and body, and the body rocks upon the supports. It is to be understood, "however, that the hereinafter described door operating mechanism is operable with either the supports as described and shown in'the drawings, or laterally spaced pivots.

'I 'he herein described door controlling mechanism which is an improvement on pending Anderson application Serial No. 119,803 is mounted upon thefbody and connected to the underframe and doors so as to lock the opposite doors in closed position when the body is in normal position and to selectively release the door at the tilting side for opening whilst maintaining the rising door locked as the body moves in dumping. In the present invention the only contact between the door controlling mechanism and the under'frame is at the central portion of the underfraine. With such a construction it is necessary to maintain "the mechanisms attached to both doors in position for openingof the doors when the body is in normal position and upon tilting of the body to move the mechanism attached to the rising door into a position preventing the opening or the door. 'I'hese necessary movements are provided without engaging the underframe at the dumping side of the body and the movement of the mechanism at the rising side of the is utilized toimpart a positive opening movement 'to "the door at the dumping side of the body. By providing a separate operating mechanism for each door and connecting the opposite r'nechanisms to the central portion of the underfra'me the doorsat each side of the body are controlled automatically by the movements of the body relative to the underframe. By providing a common connection between the body and opposite mechanisms, which connection is independent of the underframe, the doors are maintained locked in closed position when the body is in a normal position relative to the underframe and the hereinbefore described movement in one mechanism can be transferred to the opposite mechanism during the initial tilting movements of the body.

'An object of the invention is to provide a door control mechanism which is mounted on the body and actuated by movement of the body relative to the .underframe.

1937, Serial No. 129,656

Another object of the invention is to provide a door controlling mechanism of the character described which will lock the doors in closed position when the body is in normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door mechanism which will limit the opening of the door and positively close the opened door by movement of the body relative to the underframe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door control mechanism which will impart a positive opening movement to the door during the initial movements of the body and thereafter permit the opening door to be stopped independently of the continued tilting of the body.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. l is a transverse section through a railway dump car equipped with the invention; Fig. 2 shows a similar section through the car with the body in partially tilted position; Fig. 3 shows the car body in fully tilted position; Fig. 4 is a section on lines 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on lines 55 of Fig. 1; Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are enlarged details of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings where like reference characters refer to like parts, reference character I indicates generally an underframe comprising a center sill structure 2 having a plurality of laterally extending members 3 spaced longitudinally of the center'sill structure and at each side thereof. The members 3 are preferably disposed so that members 3 on opposite sides of the center sill are in the same transverse plane, it being understood however, they may be otherwise disposed if desired or if necessary to meet service conditions. Adjacent the outer end of some of the members 3 and on the upper face there-of are suitable bearing surfaces 4, and disposed outwardly of these bearing surfaces i are bearing surfaces 5. It will be understood that the particular number and form of the bearing surfaces 4 and 5 will be dependent upon the particular manner in which the body is supported upon the underframe.

The vehicle body which is supported by the underframe comprises a floor preferably formed of transversely disposed channel members 6 of less length than the width of the body and having extensions at each end of the members 6 formed of plates 1 suitably secured to the members 6. At each side of the car and extending longitudinally of the body are angular members 8 suitably connected to the members i to form a side sill, and the members 6, l and 8 are connected by means of plates 9 forming the lading supporting floor of the body. At each side of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof on bearing pins Ill, journaled in the extension plates I, are-doors H forming the lading retaining side walls of the body, the lading retaining end Walls of the body preferably being fixed walls. Each door is provided with a plurality of depending members I2 extending below the hinge connections I0 and preferably forming a part of the door stakes I3. Disposed beneath the car body and secured to some of the members 6 are trunnion bearings I 4 which engage the members 3 of the underframe in supporting the body in normal position and upon which the body turns in dumping. The body in tilting moves from normal position on to bearing surfaces 5 of the underframe and pivots thereon in dumping. Suitable means are provided for tilting the body about either side of the underframe, these body tilting mechanisms form no part of the present invention and have not been illustrated.

The door controlling means comprises separate mechanisms disposed between adjacent members 6 of the body and secured to the respective doors controlled thereby. Two or more door controlling mechanisms are connected with each door, to the members 6 of the body below the lading supporting surface 9, and to the center sill structure 2. These door mechanisms are spaced longitudinally of the body and the mechanisms for opposite doors are substantially in the same transverse vertical plane through the body. Each door mechanism comprises a crank I5 having one end pivotally mounted on a pin I5 journaled in plates I'I depending from adjacent members 6 of the body. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the crank I5 is in two pieces comprising right and left hand members I5 and I5 respectively, both of which are journaled on the pin I6. The ends of the crank I5 opposite the pin I6 have suitable apertures therein to receive 'a pin I8. Disposed between the members I 5 and I5 and journaled on the pin I8 is a lever I9 having a tapped opening in one end thereof to receive a threaded member 2|] pivotally connected to the depending member I2 of the door by means of a pin 2|. Journaled on the pin I6 and between the portions a and b of crank I5 is a bifurcated crank 22 having arms 22 and 22 the free ends of which are suitably apertured to receive the pins 23. As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the portions a and b of the crank I5 have oppositely disposed lugs 24 which are engaged by the arms a and b of the crank 22 to limit relative pivotal movement between the cranks I5 and 22 in one direction. Journaled on each pin 23 of the arms a and b of the crank 22 are levers 25, which levers are connected at one end to the pin 23 and at the opposite ends to the pin 26 journaled in the bracket 21 mounted upon the center sill structure 2. This bracket 27 has a single pin 26 disposed in a slotted opening in the bracket. The levers 25 connected to the door mechanisms on opposite sides of the car have their adjacent ends connected to the pin 26. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings the levers 25 at one side of the car must be offset at X to prevent interference with the levers 25 on the opposite side of the car. A locking mechanism providing simultaneous control for the oppositely disposed door controlling mechanisms comprises oppositely disposed bell cranks 28 mounted on the pins I6 and having the arms 28 thereof connected by a link 29 disposed above the plane of the center sill structure 2 and each arm 28 thereof engaging a stop 30 on the adjacent crank I5. When the car body is in normal position the cranks 22 hold the cranks I5 and stops 3!! thereon in engagement with the arms 28 of the adjacent bell cranks 28. By reason of the connecting link 29 the bell cranks hold the cranks I5 so as to position the toggle joint between each crank I5 and associated lever I9 above dead center to assure the release of the descending door for opening as the body is tilted. Each said toggle joint when its crank I5 is out of engagement with the adjacent bell crank 28 is limited in downward breaking by the stop 3| on lever i9 engaging suitably spaced stops 32 on crank I5. In order to provide for said limited downward breaking of said toggle joint the stops 3| and 32 are in spaced relation when the body is in normal position as shown by Fig. 1. An additional locking means is provided by the extension of the inner end of lever I9 beyond the pin I8 and the portion 22 on crank 22. These are so proportioned that the said extension of lever I9 is above the portion 22 when the body is in normal position but when the body is tilted the, said extension of lever I9 attached to the rising.

door moves below the portion 22 of the adjacent crank 22 during the downward breaking of the toggle and prevents an upward breaking of the toggle during the time the associated door is in elevated position.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the joint between the crank I5 and the lever I9 is above a straight line drawn through the centers of pins I6 and 2| so that gravity and the weight of the lading within the car tends at all times to cause the doors I3 to open. This opening movement of the doors I3 is restrained by the crank 22 and levers 25, it being noted that the levers 25 on opposite sides of the center sill structure are connected to the same pin 26 and react against each other. The locking mechanism comprising the bell cranks 28 and connecting link 29 prevent the joint between the crank I5 and lever I9 from dropping below the straight line drawn through pins I6 and 2| thereby maintaining the cranks I 5 and 22 in operable relationship when the body is in normal position relative to the underframe. 9

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, where the body is shown in partially tilted position and the descending door I3 on the right side of the body is partially opened, the door mechanism on the left side of the body has been moved to bring the toggle lock formed by the lever I9 and crank I 5 into locked position and the inner end of lever I9 moved below portion 22 of crank 22. This initial opening movement given the descending door I 3 and change in position of the door con-.

trolling mechanism attached to the rising door has resulted from .the change in relative positions of the levers 25 caused by movement of the body from normal position into the position shown. Upon reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that a line drawn through the centers of the pins 23 connecting the outer ends of the levers 25 to the cranks 22 will pass below the pin 26 connecting the inner ends of the levers 25, whereas in Fig. 3 a line drawn through the same pins 23 will pass above the pin 26. This means that at some intermediate position between the positions shown by Figs. 1 and 3 the pins 23 were a maximum distance apart, which was a greater distance than in Fig. 1, and thereafter started to move towards each other. This intermediate position is reached when a line drawn through the pins 23 passes through the center of pin 26, which position is illustrated by Fig. 2 of the drawings. It was this movement of the levers 25, resulting from movement of the tilting body from normal position into the position shown by Fig. 2, that caused the opening movement of the descending door and movement of the toggle lock for the rising door mentioned above. A detailed description of said movements upon tilting and righting of the body is as follows.

When the body tilting about the right side of the underframe moves from the position shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings into that shown by Fig. 2, the body bearing moves from bearing surface 4 to bearing surface 5 on the underframe and thereafter the body pivots on bearing surface 5. This combined lateral movement of the support for the body and pivotal movement of the body tends to increase the lateral distance between the pin 26 in the bracket 21 secured to the underframe, and the pin 23 in crank 22 on the right side of the body. Since both said pins are secured to lever 25 and therefore the distance between them is fixed, lever 25 is placed in tension and pivoting on pin 26 rotates crank 22 inwardly of the body away from the adjacent crank l5. On the left side of the body, the pin 23 in crank 22 tends to approach pin 26 in bracket 21 thereby causing compression in the lever 25 on'the left side of the body and rotates its associated crank 22 in a downward direction. This latter movement of crank 22 is continued until the body reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. From this point on, as the body continues tilting, the lever 25 on the left side of the body reverses its movement and swings upwardly, causing its associated crank 22 to rotate upwardly and inwardly of the body to impart through lever 19 an initial opening movement to the descending door E3. the movement of crank l5 on the right side of the body being made permissible by the previously described counterclockwise movement of adjacent crank 22.

As the tilting body continues to move from the position shown in Fig. 2, into that shown by Fig. 3, the lever 25 on the right side of the body rotates the associated crank 22 at a rate controlled by the rate of movement of the tilting body. It is apparent therefore that the opening movement of the door is controlled by the rate of tilting of the body, until the door is in fully opened position and door stake extension l2 engages stop 33 on the body. If, as in the present design, the door reaches fully opened position before the body reaches fully dumped position, the lever 25 on the right side of the body moves its associated crank 22 away from the adjacent crank I5 as shown in Fig. 3. From the above it is obvious that the crank l5 associated with the opening door is actuated solely by the movement of the door and if for any reason the door should be prevented from reaching fully opened position the crank I5 will stop following its associated crank 22 and permit the body to continue dumping without injury to the door mecha nism.

During the return of the body to normal position the door controlling mechanism at the dumping side of the body will return the opened door to closed position. As the body moves from the position shown by Fig. 3 into that shown by Fig. 2, lever 25 at the right side of the body is placed in compression and rotates its associated crank 22 toward the door until the crank 22 engages the adjacent crank and thereafter both cranks rotating as a unit act on the adjacent lever l9 to impart a positive closing movement to the opened door l3. During this movement the lever 25 and crank 22 on the left side of the body have been moving toward the toggle lock for the closed door on the left side of the body. As the body continues to move toward the position shown in Fig. 2 the bell crank 28 on the right side of the body is engaged by stop 3| on the adjacent crank l5 and both bell cranks 28 are rotated by link 29 so as to bring bell crank 28 on the left side of the body into engagement with its associated stop 3| as the body reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. From this point until the body reaches normal position, lever 25 and associated crank 22 on the left side of the body reverse their direction of rotation and the continued rotation of bell cranks 28 breaks the toggle lock at the left side of the body before the body reaches normal position as shown by Fig. 1.

When the body is tilted toward the left side of the underframe, the same movements of door mechanism occur, except that the mechanism on the left side of the car becomes the active door mechanism and the mechanism on the right side of the car moves into the previously described toggle lock.

To those skilled in the art, many possible changes in the details of the invention will be apparent which can be made without departing from the invention, and it is to be understood I do not limit myself to details of construction except as made necessary by the scope of the apnisms mounted adjacent opposite sides of the body for controlling said doors by the tilting of the body, each said mechanism having a pivotal connection to the adjacent door and to th-eunderframe, and means mounted on the body in engagement with said mechanisms to utilize the movement of one mechanism to actuate the mechanism on the opposite side of the body as the body moves in dumping.

2. In a dump vehicle, in combination, an underframe, a body supported thereon and tiltable to each side thereof, doors forming opposite side walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, door mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of the body, each said mechanism having connections to the adjacent door and the underframe whereby movement of the body relative to the underframe actuates the mechanisms on both sides of the body, and a common means associated with opposite door mechanisms whereby movement in both said mechanisms effects a positive opening movement to the door at the side towards which the body is tilting.

3. In a dump vehicle, in combination, an un clerframe, a body supported on the underframe and tilting to each side thereof, doors forming opposite side walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, an arm on each door depending below the said hinge connection, a crank mounted on the body adjacent each door, a link connecting each crank and the adjacent door arm, oppositely disposed bell cranks mounted on opposite sides of the body and associated with said first named cranks, a link connection between said bell cranks, means associated with each first-named crank and the underframe and actuated by relative movements between the body and underframe, and a con-.

nection between each said means and associated crank operating to move the crank towards its associated door when the body moves in one direction relative to the underframe and to permit the means to move away from the crank when the body moves in the opposite direction.

4. In a dump vehicle, in combination, an underframe, a body supported on the underframe and tilting toward opposite sides thereof, doors forming the side walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, a door mechanism associated with each door for locking the door in closed position when the body is in normal position, releasing said door for opening when the body tilts toward the adjacent side of the underframe, and holding the door closed when the body tilts towards the opposite side of the underframe, each said mechanism comprising a shaft journaled on the body adjacent the respective door, a crank on said shaft, a link ccnnection between the crank and adjacent door, a second crank on said shaft, a link connection between said crank and the underframe, means on said cranks limiting relative pivotal movement between the cranks in one direction only, a bell crank on each shaft, and a common connection between bell cranks on opposite sides of the car.

5. In a dump vehicle, in combination, an underframe, a body supported thereon and selectively tiltable to each side thereof, doors forming opposite side walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, a mechanism mounted on each side of the body for controlling the movements of the adjacent doors in all positions of the body relative to the underframe and having an initial movement induced by the initial dumping movement of the body, each said mechanism having a connection to the adjacent portions of the door and underframe and a. common connection with the mechanism on the opposite side of the body.

6. In a dump vehicle having an underframe, a body supported on the underframe for selective tilting to opposite sides thereof, doors forming the side Walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, door controlling mechanisms mounted adjacent the opposite sides of the body and connected to the adjacent door and the underframe, each said mechanism including a crank pivoted to the body, a link pivoted to the door, a connection between said crank and link normally disposed above a line drawn through their respective connections to the door and underframe, said connection between each mechanism and underframe including means normally preventing the respective doors from opening, and imparting a positive downward rotation to said crank associated with the rising door as the body moves in dumping and means common to said mechanisms for transmitting to the opposite mechanism said positive downward rotation of the crank secured to the rising door to impart a positive opening movement to the descending door.

'7. In a dump vehicle having an underframe, a body supported on the underframe for selective tilting to opposite sides thereof, doors forming the side walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, door controlling mechanisms mounted adjacent the opposite sides of the body and connected to the adjacent door and the underframe, each said mechanism including a crank pivoted to the body, a link pivoted to the door, a connection between said crank and link normally disposed above a line drawn through their respective connections to the door and underframe, said connection between each mechanism and underframe including means normally preventing the respective doors from opening and imparting a positive downward rotation to said crank associated with the rising door as the body moves in dumping and means common to said mechanisms for transmitting to the opposite mechanism said positive downward rotation of the crank secured to the rising door to impart a positive opening movement to the descending door, and independent means on said crank and link secured to the rising door to limit downward rotation of the said crank during the time the body is out of normal position.

8. In a dump vehicle in combination, an underframe, a body supported thereon for tilting towards opposite sides thereof, doors forming opposite walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, a mechanism for each door pivotally connected to each door and the adjacent side of the body, each said mechanisms extending inwardly of said body connection, a common connection between opposite mechanism extensions and the underframe and a link and lever connection between opposite mechanisms and the body at said connections between said body and mechanisms.

9. In a dump vehicle, in combination, an underframe, a body tiltably supported thereon, doors forming opposite side walls of the body and hinged adjacent the floor thereof, a crank and lever connection between each door and the adjacent side of the body, a crank and link connection between opposite crank and lever connection, and a crank and lever connection between each side of the body and the intermediate portion of the underframe, each said cranks at each side of the body having a common connection with the body.

10. In a dump vehicle in combination, an underframe, a tiltable body, doors forming opposite side walls of the body, a mechanism for controlling each door and having a connection to said door and an adjacent portion of the body, a connection between the opposite door mechanisms and the underframe, and automatic means supported Wholly by the body and actuated by relative movement between the body and underframe for maintaining the mechanisms in position to lock the doors closed when the body is in normal position and for automatic selective releasing of the discharging door for opening as the body is tilted.

CARL W. MILLER. 

